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Restless Spirits
In China, ancient human sacrifice has given way to modern tomb-tending ceremonies, but the dead still make demands.
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/01-ghost-warriors-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-01.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/02-battle-formation-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-02.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/03-individual-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-03.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/04-down-warrior-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-04.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/05-buried-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-05.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/06-burial-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-06.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/07-burning-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-07.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/08-clay-bowls-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-08.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Banpo Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/09-longshan-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-09.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Longshan ceramic vessel; 2700—2500 B.C.; 9.6 inches Grave goods, including this plump-legged vessel, served the needs of the dead, letting ancestors perform afterlife ceremonies.
Xian Cattle Chinaware Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/10-jade-dragon-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-10.jpg
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Shang jade dragon; ca 1250 B.C.; 2.3 inches This cherished jade adorned a queen's grave.
Anyang Archaeological Work Station
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/11-oracle-bone-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-11.jpg
Photograph by Richard Swiecki, Royal Ontario Museum/Corbis
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/12-tang-guard-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-12.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Tang tomb guard; A.D. 618—906; 26 inches A spiky-crowned tomb guard kept evil at bay.
Shaanxi History Museum, Xian
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/13-female-archer-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-13.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Xian Cattle Chinaware Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/14-han-vessel-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-14.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Han ceramic vessel; 206 B.C.—A.D. 220; 18.7 inches The elaborate design of grave goods, such as this wine container, signaled status.
Xian Cattle Chinaware Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/15-zhou-cauldron-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-15.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Western Zhou bronze cauldron; 1045—771 B.C.; 8 inches This cauldron is supported by fantastical birds
Shaanxi History Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/16-brass-horse-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-16.jpg
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Anyang Archaeological Work Station
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/17-wei-ox-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-17.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Northern Wei ceramic ox; A.D. 386-534; 7 inches This ox did otherworldly plowing.
Xian Cattle Chinaware Museum
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/18-wooden-attendants-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-18.jpg
Photograph by Ira Block
Archaeological Institute, Yangguanzhai
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/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/19-paper-714.jpg
/2010/01/chinese-afterlife/img/afterlife-60-19.jpg
Photograph by Greg Girard, Contact Press Images